Category: District

Sargodha: The Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) task force on Monday caught three power pilferers during early morning hours.

According to official sources,the teams raided at various areas of the district and caught three accused involved in electricity theft from main lines and meter tampering.

The teams also imposed hefty fines on the pilferers.

Police also registered cases against them.

Hyderabad: In an effort to promote reading habits and strengthen academic engagement, the Institute of Sindhology and Allama I.I. Qazi Library at the University of Sindh, Jamshoro has announced a three-day literary and educational book fair from February 26 to 28, 2025.

According to a statement issued by the university spokesperson, the book fair aims to inspire students, teachers and the general public to develop a love for reading, gain access to books on various subjects and encourage literary and academic discussions.

Renowned authors, scholars and publishers will participate in the event, where newly published books will be launched. While the attendees will be able to interact with writers and scholars in intellectual discussions, so as to further strengthen the literary and educational environment of the university.

Director of the Institute of Sindhology Ghulam Murtaza Siyal emphasized that a strong reading culture was the foundation of intellectual excellence, and this book fair will help students to adopt reading habits and critical thinking.

Meanwhile, the acting Vice-Chancellor of the Sindh University Professor Dr. Khalil-ur-Rehman Khambati welcomed the initiative, stating that students, researchers and book enthusiasts should take advantage of this unique opportunity to deepen their connection with knowledge and literature.

Gujrat: Kanjah police have arrested a drug pusher and recovered over one kilogram heroin from his possession.

According to police, the operation was led by ASI Fayyaz, who along with his team, apprehended the accused, Sohail Bashir. A case has been registered and an investigation is ongoing.

Citizens and civil society have lauded the police and called for stringent measures to curb drug-related crimes in the region.

Dera ismail khan: Rescue 1122 provided services in a total of 202 emergencies during the last week.

According to the weekly performance report issued here on Monday, the total emergencies include 143 medical, 41 road accidents, 10 fire eruptions, four fighting and four other incidents.

During this period, it said that the control room received several emergency calls and Rescue 1122 teams promptly responded and provided timely services to citizens.

It added that the district's emergency service was equipped with all latest facilities to provide prompt services to citizens during emergencies.

Peshawar: In a significant shift following the 2024 General Election, the Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government has garnered widespread admiration for its decisive role in averting Pakistan's potential financial collapse.

The government's strategic and financial moves, including securing vital agreements with the IMF and diplomatic support, have proven crucial in stabilizing the country's economy during a time of the acute financial crisis in early months of 2022.

"At the time of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government assuming office in April 2022, Pakistan was on the verge of defaulting on its international debt obligations, with foreign reserves dwindling to critically low levels besides current accounts deficit was mounting," said Professor Dr Zilakat Malik, former Chairman, Economics Department at University of Peshawar while talking to reporter.

He said the country was desperate for immediate financial relief and long-term economic stability at that time. Through a combination of tough fiscal policies and strategic international diplomacy, he said the government has been able to put the country's economy back on track, reducing the current account deficit and restoring international confidence.

He reiterated that if the Shehbaz Sharif government had not made tough fiscal decisions at that time, the likely default would have had disastrous effects on the nation's credit rating, leading to runaway inflation, mass unemployment, and social unrest.

Under the leadership of Shehbaz Sharif, key economic indicators have shown significant improvement. The government's efforts have led to an increase in exports, which reached about $30.64 billion from $27.72 billion, along with a record inflow of remittances from overseas Pakistanis.

The other notable initiatives included the launch of the Uran Pakistan mega project for economic sustainability and youth empowerment, implementation of universal health coverage, and the inauguration of the new Gwadar airport.

The government's fiscal reforms have also led to significant positive outcomes for economic recovery, with Pakistan saving Rs238 billion after suspending the costly agreement with Independent Power Producers (IPPs). Moreover, the improvement in the country's credit rating was also considered major achievement.

Addressing Pakistan's longstanding energy shortfall, the government has converted about 27,000 electric tube wells to solar energy, which is expected to enhance agricultural production while reducing power consumption.

"The reduction of inflation to record lows, coupled with the stock exchange reaching new heights and the increase of BISP stipends to Rs13,500, have directly benefited millions of Pakistanis," said Dr. Zilakat Malik.

Former Ambassador Manzoorul Haq said that the pivotal moment in averting Pakistan's economic default came with the government's focused diplomatic efforts and strengthened its bilateral relations with friendly countries.

He said the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led successful diplomatic policies and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), securing a vital loan package that included foreign exchange reserves helped to stabilize the currency and restored confidence of international monetary institutions.

The government also engaged with regional partners such as Saudi Arabia, China, and the UAE, securing essential financial relief to support infrastructure development, poverty allievation, industrial and infrastructure development besides job creation.

In addition to securing the much needed financial aid, he said the government has sucessfully implemented vital tax reforms and rationalized subsidies, focusing on increasing revenue collection and cutting non-essential public sector expenditures.

These measures have helped stabilize the national economy and bridge urban-rural gaps, while efforts to curb smuggling and improve the business climate have positioned the country for speedy growth.

PML-N KP Information Secretary Ikhtair Wali emphasized the importance of these reforms, ensuring that the country does not face such a precarious economic situation again.

He accused the PTI Government's poor fiscal policies that put the country's at the verge of economic default.

"The measures we have taken are not just for short-term stabilization but also for long-term sustainable growth that was praised by international monetary institutions," he stated.

Former Ambassador Manzoorul Haq praised the Shehbaz Sharif government's foreign policy achievements, particularly the successful organization of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) conference in Islamabad.

He also highlighted the strong stance the Prime Minister took at the United Nations General Assembly on the Kashmir dispute, restoring international confidence in Pakistan.

Several prominent figures, including retired information officer Misal Khan, senior economist Sumbal Riaz, and property dealer Nasir Khan, have also lauded the government's 11 months performance, which they say has raised the country's stature on the global stage.

Despite the remaining economic challenges, such as inflation, unemployment, and debt burden, experts believe the government's swift action has provided the country with a crucial window of opportunity for economic recovery vital for jobs creation and ensuring daily use items to people at a reasonable rate.

With foreign reserves stabilized and fiscal policies starting to bear fruits, Pakistan is now in a better position to attract much-needed international investment.

Experts remain optimistic about the future of Pakistani economy, pointing to the government's successful prevention of imminent economic default as a testament to the nation resilience and hope for sustainable growth.

The road ahead may still be fraught with challenges, but Pakistan's quick recovery from a near-collapse represents a critical turning point and provides a solid foundation for the nation's long-term prosperity.

Sargodha: An anti-encroachment operation was conducted in Bhagtanwala village on Sunday under the supervision of Chief Officer (CO) District Council, Asad Hariya.

The anti-encroachment teams, led by District Council chief officer, removed all temporary encroachments and demolished permanent structures using heavy machinery. The operation was carried out with police support and other staff members.

CO Asad Hariya reaffirmed that the operation would continue daily until all encroachments are fully removed. He warned that any attempt to re-establish encroachments would result in heavy fines, business closures, and legal action.